SIGN UP

Create an Inhabitat account

Sign up for weekly newsletter

I agree to receive emails from the site. I can withdraw my consent at any time by unsubscribing.

I agree to Inhabitat's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to the use of cookies described therein, and I also consent to the collection, storage, and processing of my data in the United States, where data protection laws may be different from those in my country.

New VW e-Golf beats Nissan Leaf driving range with 124 miles per charge

VW has unveiled the updated 2017 e-Golf electric car with some huge improvements. Unveiled at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, the updated e-Golf which, comes with a 50 percent improved driving range of 124 miles on a single charge, which is now longer than the BMW i3 and Fiat 500e.

The 2017 VW e-Golf has a new 35.8 kWh lithium-ion battery that’s an improvement over the old 24.2 kWh battery. That’s good enough to give the e-Golf a driving range that will now beat the Nissan Leaf, but it’s still short of the much anticipated Chevy Bolt with its 238 mile driving range. The 2017 e-Golf can be recharged in less than six hours using a 240-volt outlet or up to 80 percent in an hour with the faster DC fast charging option.

In addition to the upgraded battery, the new e-Golf is getting an updated electric motor. The electric motor now generates 134 horsepower, which is 19 more than the first e-Golf. The maximum torque has also increased from 199 pound feet to 214 lb-ft. More power means that the 2017 e-Golf is now more than a second faster with a 0-60 mph time of 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 93 mph.

Inside, the 2017 e-Golf now features VW’s new Digital Cockpit, which displays all necessary information on a 12.3-inch color screen. A new 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system has been added and within the next two years the system will also offer gesture controls to operate the various menus. Lastly, the 2017 e-Golf does get a few styling updates, like new bumpers and LED lights.